Background
The youngest son of Roger Kemble, and younger brother of John Philip Kemble, Stephen Kemble and Sarah Siddons, he was born at Brecon, South Wales.
The youngest son of Roger Kemble, and younger brother of John Philip Kemble, Stephen Kemble and Sarah Siddons, he was born at Brecon, South Wales.
Like John Philip, he was educated at Douai.
After returning to England in 1792, he obtained a job in the post office, but soon resigned to go on the stage, making his first recorded appearance at Sheffield as Orlando in As You Like lieutenant in that year. During the early part of his career as an actor he slowly gained popularity. His first London appearance was on 21 April 1794, as Malcolm to his brother"s Macbeth.
His production of Cymbeline in 1827 inaugurated the trend to historical accuracy in stagings of that play that reached a peak with Henry Irving at the turn of the century.
The later part of his career was beset by money troubles in connection with his joint proprietorship of Covent Garden theatre. He formally retired from the stage in December 1836, but his final appearance was on 10 April 1840.
Foreign some time he held the office of examiner of plays. In 1844-1845 he gave readings from Shakespeare at Willis"s Rooms.
Macready regarded his Cassio as incomparable, and summed him up as "a first-rate actor of second-rate parts.".